by Kirsten Choi
A student’s reflection on why writing isn’t one-size-fits-all, but a balancing act between your unique subjective style and the objective rules.
Eagerly awaiting my writing paper exam, I was thrilled to finally see my grade. Wondering if I’d score a 23, 24 or 25 out of 25, I was shocked as I laid eyes on a screeching 19, marked in bloody, scorching red ink. I let out an exasperated gasp, thinking there was definitely a marking mistake.
My previous teacher had never given me lower than 23, and receiving a 19 from another teacher was foreign territory. How could I even get something much lower than my average? I was absolutely devastated, and my thoughts spiralled down the drain. I questioned all my prior knowledge and work, wondering if I had always been wrong about my talents and creativity. So one day, I decided to ask my teacher what had happened. What she told me changed my whole perception of writing.
Writing is a subjective concept. I find good in works people deem as bad, and I find what is considered good, bad. Different people have different standards, and we all view creativity in different ways. Some could link it to deeper ideas, whereas others discerned no depth whatsoever.
That’s when it hit me: the marker of my writing had a different approach to creativity than my normal teacher. Taking a look at the comments again, I discovered some of her points were valid and reasonable.
Subjectivity mainly lies in the depth, creative interpretation and literary devices of different works. Take this famous short story as an example, “For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.” To some, it’s a brief sentence about baby shoes on sale; a technically and literally correct assumption. However, the true meaning might be that the baby had died, and the shoes remain unworn. Our individual interpretation of meaning, though, may actually and factually differ from the author’s intent. It is normal to mis-assume or mistake hidden meanings.
If writing really is that subjective, you might be wondering: how do teachers fairly mark them? The answer lies in the objective standards.
Picture this, a writing with perfect grammar, consistent flow, clear prose, detailed descriptions and linked plots. Then, picture this, a writing with messy grammatical structures, inconsistent pacing, lack of detail and plot holes. Which one would be more pleasing to read? Definitely the first one.
So, while writing might be thought of as subjective, it’s not actually without any objective standards. Accuracy and clear interpretations are general factors that make writing better, so good writing can be achieved by mastering objective criteria. Many excellent writers have learnt to adhere to linking the objective: structure, grammar and process, with the subjective: content, humour, tone and even style, and we can learn and be inspired by them.
Therefore, because genres and styles of writing can be subjective, there is no need to be discouraged by the comments of others. Some might find your writing a work of art, whereas others might view it as the creation of Satan. And that is okay because people have different writing styles. What appeals to one may be as distant as the moon and the sun, yet that does not invalidate one creation over another.
Thus, it is important for us to learn to appreciate a variety of writing styles of writers, whether controversial, dystopian, or abstract. Each is unique in a way that makes their creations theirs. Receiving conflicting opinions is not a sign of failure; it indicates that your writing has had the power to be thought-provoking, requiring further analysis and deeper thinking.
The goal isn’t to write for everyone so that they all love your work. Instead, it is to write for an audience that connects with your voice and style. Subjectivity, to like or not, is a choice. It is also a freedom for you to express whatever you want in your own way. ■
Kirsten Choi is a student from Ying Wa Girls’ School who is passionate about writing and public speaking. As a participant in this year’s HKFYG English Public Speaking Contest, she believes that words connect people and act as the strongest form of communication. When she’s not writing or doing public speaking, she enjoys spending her time shopping and going to the beach.